God Kiana looked at the puddle of Tianqi-chan on the floor, contemplating whether or not to spit on it. But then she thought about how Tianqi might pop back out and humiliate her again, so she decided against it.
"You'd better not bring her before my real self in the future, or I'll definitely fight her to the death."
"Let's not. By the time I bring her to meet your real self, it might be at our wedding to have you as a witness... If you two start fighting then, I'll really be torn apart…"
"Tsk, I can't even beat her now. By the time you two get married, I'll probably only be able to look up to you."
"Why talk about power levels among family... it's not like we'll ever fight."
"Hard to say, since we just fought not too long ago…"
Ryn sighed and went to the bathroom to get a mop to clean up the Tianqi-chan that Tianqi had left behind. He had no idea where she had learned such an exit method.
If he couldn't still clearly feel Tianqi making a funny face at him in the Stigmata Space, Ryn's heart would have almost stopped just now.
——————————————
Under the moonlight, Mei slept peacefully with her hands clasped under her head.
And by her bed stood a two-headed monster.
Ryn looked at the shadow the moonlight cast through him onto the bed, and the more he looked, the weirder it seemed.
So he reached out and pushed God Kiana's head back into his body, telling her to stay in the Stigmata Space and talk to him from there.
"Kiana, since you want to come out, does that mean you want to participate in Mei's dream?"
"Yes. I love her very much, and she loves me very much. If we're going to weave a beautiful dream of the future, a future without me wouldn't be perfect, would it?"
God Kiana said softly. She had her own sensitivities. She had already destroyed the once-perfect everything. Even though she was now secretly guiding Penglaiji Ryn to create a beautiful world.
This was not her beautiful future…
Even if it was just an illusory dream, as long as it was with Mei, as long as they could be together... that was enough.
Ryn nodded. Using the Authority of the Herrscher of Sentience, he entered the unguarded and unsuspecting mind of Mei, bringing Stigmata Kiana with him, which meant bringing God Kiana along into God Mei's dream.
"By the way, Kiana, when do you want the dream to begin?"
God Kiana paused for a moment, then smiled with infinite reminiscence.
"Of course, from the place where it all began!"
"Alright then. Next up, let's begin God Kiana and God Mei's 'Date A Live'!"
————————————————————————————————
2014, Nagazora City, on the eve of the Great Honkai Eruption.
Mei, a top student at Senba Academy, was sitting in her classroom as usual, paying attention to the lesson.
But for some reason, her eyes were dull, as if many worries were troubling her.
"This dream again... Next is the outbreak of the Third Honkai Eruption, right? I'll become a Herrscher and turn Nagazora City into a scorched wasteland…
Then Kiana will appear, snap me out of it, and give me new hope…
Then we'll encounter Bronya trying to retrieve me…
Then we'll meet Himeko and go to St. Freya High School together…
And then... Kiana will become the Herrscher of Finality and destroy everything…"
Every night, it was the same dream, tedious and cruel. Even if she changed any single step, she couldn't change the final outcome of Kiana becoming Finality…
So what was the point of it all…
But then, the sound of hurried footsteps and a shout interrupted Mei's thoughts.
"Aiya, that darn Ryn didn't even give me a moment to react... It's been tens of thousands of years since I've worn normal clothes…"
Kiana frantically pulled on the Senba Academy uniform as she rushed towards Mei's classroom from memory.
She had long forgotten how to interact with people normally, and she had forgotten what her past self was like. But none of that mattered anymore, because everything could start over in this dream!
*BANG—*
Under the stunned gazes of the entire class and the teacher, Kiana kicked the classroom door open and burst in.
After entering, she immediately looked around, searching for Mei.
Finding Mei was all too easy. All she had to do was follow the longing in her heart.
And sure enough, in the direction her sixth sense was pointing, Mei was staring at her with the same disbelief as everyone else.
"Kiana? How...? The timing is wrong…" Mei called out Kiana's name in surprise. According to the normal timeline, Kiana shouldn't have appeared here so early…
"Forget it... it's all the same result. Just another nightmare."
After a glance at Kiana, Mei averted her gaze and listlessly slumped onto her desk. So what if Kiana appeared early? In the end, everything would still be destroyed…
"Enough nonsense! This time, I won't let go of your hand again!"
Kiana grabbed Mei's hand. Ignoring Mei's frantic shouts and the clamor of the teacher and students, she dragged Mei and jumped straight out the window.
*Splat—*
Kiana jumped from the third floor and landed face-first in the dirt... while Mei landed securely on top of Kiana, still stunned from Kiana dragging her out of a window.
Ryn, who was acting as the narrator in the background and was ready to provide Kiana with any help she needed, speechlessly facepalmed. He couldn't bear to watch God Kiana…
"Kiana! Are you okay!!"
Mei quickly got off Kiana and frantically checked her for injuries. But not knowing how badly Kiana was hurt, she didn't dare to touch her body and just hovered nearby, wringing her hands in panic.
"Hehe... a little injury like this is nothing... blargh…"
Kiana forced a smile to show she was fine, and then spat out a mouthful of blood…
"Ahhh! Kiana! You're spitting up blood!!"
"It's fine! A gentle hug from Mei will make it all better!!"
"This is no time for jokes! How can you still be kidding around like this! I'm calling the infirmary right now! You have to hold on!"
*Wee-woo, wee-woo—*
Ryn ran over pushing a small cart, threw Kiana onto it, and then, whistling a siren sound, sped away with Kiana, disappearing in a flash. He left Mei, who had just taken out her phone to call for help, standing alone and bewildered in the wind.
——————————————
"Are you an idiot! I told you, this is a dream. According to the story's development, you are all still ordinary people before the Honkai appears. How dare you jump from the third floor! Or were you always this much of a blockhead?"
Ryn grumbled as he adjusted the dream parameters to give God Kiana emergency treatment.
"I touched Mei's hand. My life is complete, this life was worth it!" God Kiana's eyes fluttered open and shut, and she passed out.